ELK. 
177 
An attempt has been made at New York to ren- 
der the elk useful in agricultural labours, which 
has been attended with success. 1 Mr. Chancellor 
Livingston, the president of the New York Society, 
had two of these animals broken to the harness. 
Though they had been but twice bitted, and were 
two years old, they appeared to be equally docile 
with colts of the same age. They applied their 
whole strength to the draught, and went on a 
steady pace. Their mouths appeared very. tender, 
and some care was necessary to prevent them from 
being injured by the bit. If, upon trial, it is found 
that the elks can be rendered useful in harness, it 
will be considerable acquisition to the Americans. 
As their trot is very rapid, it is probable that, in 
light carriages, they would out-travel the horse. 
They are also less delicate in their food than that 
animal, becoming fat on hay only. They are long- 
lived, and more productive than any beast of bur- 
den. 
The Indians have u superstitious notion that 
there is an elk of such an enormous size, that eight 
feet in depth of snow is no impediment to its walk- 
ing. That its hide is proof against weapons of 
every description ; and that it has an arm growing 
out of its shoulder subservient to the same purposes 
as ours. They say also that this imaginary animal 
is attended by a vast number of other elks, which 
form his court, and render him every service that a 
sovereign can require of them. The Indians es- 
teem the elk an animal of good omen, and believe 
that to dream of it often is an indication of long 
life. 
When suddenly roused, and it is endeavouring 
to make its escape, the elk is observed at times to 
fall down, as if deprived for some moments of mo- 
tion. Whether this be owing, as frequently has 
been imagined, to an epileptic fit, . or whether it 
VOL. ir A a 
